By Stacey Wittig
When sniffing out your next dogcation, don’t overlook Mammoth Lakes in the Eastern Sierra Mountains of California. The place is pure dog paradise with lakes for swimming, outdoor decks with plenty of room for dog-accompanied patrons, and hiking trails galore. Of course, your four-legged traveling companion is sure to love all the forest fun.
The four-season mountain town is an eight-hour, 50-minute road trip from Flagstaff, with lots of dog-friendly places to stop along the way.
Situated in the Inyo National Forest, the town of Mammoth Lakes has worked together with the forest service to put together a comprehensive website that provides accurate information on over 100 local trails. The most challenging thing about hiking the Mammoth Lakes Trail System (MLTS) is choosing between all the trails that led to lakes and waterfalls, something we don’t get a lot of here in northern Arizona. Check out MLTS at mammothtrails.org.
We finally decided on the Lakes Basin backcountry, parking at Crystal Lake Trailhead and walking to breathtaking Lake George and Emerald Lake. While hiking, we came upon many happy off-leash dogs. Scott Quirsfeld of Eastside K9 Avalanche Rescue based in Mammoth Lakes explains, “Leashes are required within the town limits of Mammoth Lakes, but once outside, you can take your pet off-leash as long as you maintain voice command. Just be sure to put your dog back on leash in highly populated areas like parking lots, trailheads, campsites, and picnic areas.”
The local expert says, “Your dog will love running through miles of trails, but please be mindful that he or she does not disturb other hikers, dogs, or wildlife in all of the excitement. And as always, leave no trace. Pick up after your dog, and don’t leave doggy bags on the trail.”
One of the exceptions to that rule of thumb is Devils Postpile National Monument. Officials require your pup to be on a leash at the riverside park, which preserves unique 101-foot high geological structures. You can hike to the top of the unusual rock formations to view the caps of the hexagonal columns polished by glaciers, which disappeared thousands of years ago. Woof-worthy, for sure! Learn more about the fire and ice that shaped this park at nps.gov/depo.
Being a resort town, Mammoth Lakes offers a wide variety of restaurants, many of them with pet-friendly patios. We enjoyed the beer garden at Mammoth Brewery, where we ate fresh California cuisine and drank Golden Trout Kölsch and Mammoth Pilsner. At any one time, at least five doggie guests were lounging comfortably in the outdoor space. (mammothbrewingco.com)
You’ll find plenty of dog-friendly hotels and resorts in Mammoth Lakes. We chose Mammoth Mountain Inn, where our two-bedroom condo with loft had a dining room, kitchen and plenty of room for dogs. Two dogs of any size are allowed with a $50 per pooch fee. Sorry, no cats. (themammothmountaininn.com)
The lively canine culture in Mammoth Lakes includes pet shops, a self-serve dog wash, a dog walking and adventure camp for dogs, and free bus rides. The Eastern Sierra Transit Authority welcomes well-behaved pets that are muzzled and leashed or in carriers aboard buses. (visitmammoth.com) Reviews.com listed Mammoth Lakes as a “Top 500 Places to Visit with Your Dog.”
Stacey Wittig is a travel writer based near Flagstaff, Arizona. Get free tips and inspirational travel ideas at her acclaimed website, unstoppablestaceytravel.com.
